Our Past Affliction (Elyu Series #1)

Chapter 41

The Sunset-Unang Yugto

Tw.

A cold wind brushed my cheeks making my tears froze. Everything feels like a blur like I'm in a bubble.

I hear a drop of water at the same time I feel a hot liquid coming out of my nose.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko at hinawakan ang ilong ko. My body vibrated as my eyes flash me like I'm in a third-person point of view. I can see myself frozen in time while staring at the blood in my hand.

I breathe.

I breathe again.

And again. But the blood got worse.

And worse.

1 month. My father never showed up in front of our house. Ni-isang anino niya ay hindi ko nakita, I kept texting him but he's not responding but even though he's not responding he never misses any of my allowances.

Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-bigay niya saakin ng pera, but I don't need money. I need a father more not money right now.

Seeing my mother brings another kid into our home and treat him as her own son, is much more to take in. Kung noon ay malayo na siya saakin Ngayon ay pakiramdam ko mas lumayo na siya nang tuluyan saakin.

She doesn't care about me anymore. Like she ever cared about me.

Mas tatanggapin ko ang mga sinabi niya na mas mahal niya si Calvin keysa saakin. Putulin niya na ang allowance ko para mas madali siyang maka-ipon sa pag-pacremate niya, huwag niya lang akong ipagpalit sa iba.

I maybe sound like a little girl like now but I need my papa right now. Kailangan ko ng tao na tatayo saakin at yayakapin ako ng mahigpit. Hindi dahil sa naawa siya saakin kundi dahil mahal niya ako. Mas kailangan ko siya ngayon higit pa sa kahit sinong tao sa mundo ngayon.

I want my father, I need my father.

"Your father will not be home for this month, pero pinabantayan ka niya saakin. I want to suggest that you live under my roof but I know you'll reject that" Ani ni Lola habang sopistikadang kumakain ng pagkain niya. Para bang narinig niya ang paghihinagpis ko, hindi ko maiwasang mapa-ngisi sa sinabi niya. Is she joking?

"I'll reject it dahil alam kong pipilitin mo lang ako pakasalan si Jackson and that is never happening" sagot ko. Napa-sulyap naman saakin si Tito Amando kaya tinignan ko rin siya pabalik, kaagad siyang bumitiw at tumikhim bago bumalik sa pagkain niya.

Madiin akong tinitignan ni Lola at binantaan ng tingin kaya napa-ayos ako ng upo at hindi na siya pinansin pa.

We're at a restaurant having dinner talking about shitty family stuff. Sabado na ngayon na pinagpasalamatan ko. Vince and I still not talking, I tried to talk to him but he's the one who's avoiding me.

I exhaled.

The restaurant is silent but full of whispers of conversation, pakiramdam ko ay nakikinig ang buong tao saamin kapag nag-uusap kami kahit may sarili naman silang mundo. I'm still in my uniform, ganon din si Tito Amando samantalang si Lola ay naka-suot ng mamahaling dress at pulang lipstick na mas nag-pasungit sa mukha niya. I cleared my throat.

"Nasaan ba si papa, bakit hindi siya makaka-uwi ngayon? Is his work really that important than seeing his daughter?" Mapait kong tanong na kaagad naman sinagot ni Lola.

"He's on a cruise Amalia, Hindi naman siya pwedeng bumaba nalang ng barko para puntahan ang unica ija niya. Don't be so selfish" nanlaki ang mata ko at kaagad nang angat ng tingin sakanya.